As some of you may remember, my family tries to eat vegetarian meals about three to four nights a week. Since I believe that food should always be a fun experience, I am constantly looking for fun, new recipes to serve that are vegetarian. While I own lots of vegetarian cookbooks, the biggest issue I have is that most of these cookbooks rely on processed soy products that…well…don’t look or taste appetizing. To me, vegetarian dishes should contain real fruits and vegetables. I have no problem with tofu every so often, but it’s one of those things I am in the mood for every once in a blue moon. While I don’t think this is a bad thing, it does leave me constantly changing or creating my own recipes. Recently, I went on a mission to make a vegetarian friendly French onion soup!
I know what you are thinking – Susan, French onion soup is filled with vegetables and is meatless! While some places may claim French onion soup is vegetarian friendly – it’s not! Nearly every recipe for French onion soup on the planet has beef broth and in some rare occasions, chicken broth. When I first made my attempt to make a vegetarian friendly French onion soup – I will be honest with you, I failed horribly. It was flavorless and just plain disgusting. It wasn’t until I started playing around with three fall recipes with a fall twist that I found my recipe – Apple Cider French Onion Soup!
When I first saw this recipe in one of my Crockpot books, I thought they had to be crazy. I made it the first time following the recipe and while it was okay – wasn’t really anything to write home about. It wasn’t until months later after I had modified the recipe heavily that I came up with this amazing recipe! The soup itself is slightly salty, but flavorful with a slight aftertaste of apples to help clear the palate.
Oddly enough, this is one of the few recipes I have made where vegetable broth and beef broth are interchangeable. If you would prefer to try this Apple Cider French Onion Soup recipe as a traditional soup, just substitute beef broth for the vegetable concentrate. For those of you who love a good vegetarian soup, I think you are absolutely going to love this recipe! If you try it, make sure to tell me what you think! Since I am still playing with the recipe, I am always open to suggestions!
PrintApple Cider French Onion Soup Recipe (Vegetarian Friendly)
Apple Cider French Onion Soup This is a fun, Crockpot recipe that adds a new twist to to the traditional french onion soup recipe! Best of all, it’s vegetarian friendly!
Ingredients
- 4 Tablespoons Salted Butter Melted or Cubed
- 5 Large Yellow Onions Chopped
- 3 Medium Granny Smith Apples Cubed (leave skin on)
- 4 cups Water
- 4 Teaspoons Vegetable Broth Concentrate liquid concentrate (in jar)
- 2 cups Apple Cider
- 1/4 cup Brandy optional
- Bread prefer wheat or whole multi-grain
- Melted or Spread Butter
- Gouda Cheese shredded
Instructions
- place the melted or cubed butter in your Crockpot and move it around evenly in the pan.
- Place your apples and onions in the Crockpot. Cook on LOW in the Crockpot for 10 hours.
- Place water, vegetable concentrate, brand, and apple cider in the Crockpot. Mix well. Set the Crockpot to HIGH and cook for another hour.
- Turn your oven to broil. Butter your preferred bread on both sides and place on a cookie sheet. Place the shredded Gouda cheese on top. Cook on broil until brown – about two to three minutes, depending on your oven.
- Serve soup hot with bread on top of the soup.
About Susan Bewley
Susan Bewley is a professional writer who has been writing content online & in print format for over 10 years. As well, she is an alumni of the University of Louisville with a Masters Degree in Special Education. When not working as an online business consultant or ghost writing, she can be found writing on Budget Earth, on her own novel, or working with various entities in the pet industry.
sounds delish. I am fae from a vegerarian but I would try this!
Wow, seriously this looks and sounds delicious!
It is! Everyone in my family loved it!
I love Apple cider but haven't tried it with onion soup! Thank you for sharing!
This sounds really good!
Susan, another great recipe, thank you so much..
This looks amazing!
This sounds nice and easy. I am trying to find fun new recipes using the crockpost. Thanks. This has made my list of recipes to try!
This sounds amazing! I love a nice bowl of hot soup in the fall and winter!
This looks yummy! I might have to try to get this past the guys. I just won't tell them it's vegetarian!
If you use a high quality veggie concentrate, they likely won’t know the difference since it’s so different 😉
This sound divine!!
Sounds yummy! Thanks for sharing!
The combination of apples and onions really intruiges me! I'm a huge fan of french onion soup so I think I'll have to try this in the next few months. Thanks for sharing!
To bad I am allergic to onions. I can't even keep them in the house to cook with or anything. I did share though cause I know my freinds will love it.
I love French Onion soup and this looks and sounds delicious. I am not a vegetarian but I am going to make it exactly the way it is in this post and give it a shot.
I love all the recipes you post! I never thought of using apple cider vinegar in soup at all. Thanks for posting.
So glad you enjoy my recipes 🙂
I really want to try this recipe. I need to go and get the ingredients!
this is a very interesting soup susan, it's my first time to hear this i'm sure it taste good
Wow apple and onion in a soup! I do try to be vegetarian too so I might try this recipe. Cheers for sharing!
That really sounds pretty good actually!! I never in a million years would have come up with that!!
Thanks! My husband looked at me like I was crazy when I first made the recipe 🙂 Combining different recipes can be dangerous!
That looks amazing! I know what I'm making this weekend.
My daughter is vegan so I've been searching for different recipes to try for her. Now I'd just have to modify this one a bit. I love the sound of it! In fact, I was going to make a French Onion Soup this weekend and went with a different one instead. I think this one will go on the menu for next week. =)
Yeah, the cheese isn’t vegan friendly. It is very good without it though. Instead of the butter, you could always use margarin or olive oil 🙂
a very interesting food i'm sure not just for vegetarian but us too who are not hehehe
Yup! It’s just unique since most french onion soup recipes include beef broth 🙂
I never thought to put apple cider into onion soup! This looks so good too. Everyone in my house is sick right now and we have practically been eating hot soup every single day. I would love to make this for my family. Oh and all the yummy cheesy-ness on top!!!!! DELISH 🙂
My biggest issue is I want to eat to eat the toast that goes on top without the soup! Both are tasty apart and together!
The cold weather and storm Sandy calls for some onion soup
You know, if Sandy wanted some soup, she could have just asked….
I just love Onion Soup. This sounds wonderful! I will save it! Thanks for sharing!!!
This sounds really delicious and I absolutely agree with the tofu thing!
My mother's favorite soup is Onion Soup and I think I will make this recipe for her and bring it over. The adding of the apple cider will bring it a step above. Thanks for the post.
I LOVE this recipe! I can even vegan-ize it (as I am on a journey to veganism) by changing the butter to olive oil and using some vegan "cheese" product (some are actualy OK). Thanks so much!
I did not realize that some french onion soups have beef broth! Thank you for pointing out this – I try to stay vegetarian and will be making this recipe.
I love french onion soup and this apple recipe makes it sound even better!!!
This sounds very intruiging because of the apple cider.I tsounds so delicious I just have to try it.Thanks for posting.
This sounds great. I am pinning this one for later. Thank you for sharing with us.